Latch construction



y R. JELLISON 2,476,734

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 16, 1948 v 5 Sheets-Sheet l E LIE-:l ELE EJuly 19, 1949.

Filed Jan. 16, 1948 R. JELLISON LATCH CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i J27 7 I3 l4 [a I5 I? C N 4 ll BY Mamm A rro /vzrs July 19, 1949. R.JELLISON LATCH CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1948 LEI-71E=lEl- V IN VEN TOR; Reef/Q7 Jazz AS 04 Ch) I A I'TJ/P/Vil July 19,1949.

R. JELLISON 2,476,734

. LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 16, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 1T'= LE m fi1 @E U 65. W J "1: 51.

, JNVENTOR. 14 05527 Jlqz /60/V BY ywww ' y 1949. R. JELLISON LATCHCONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 16, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 19, 1949STAT ES FATE NT OFFICE LATCH: QQNSTRUGTION Robert Jellison, San Diego,Calif.

Aimlication January 16, 9.48, Serial No. 23%

14 Claims.

This. invention relates generally. to latch mechanisms and reiers moreparticularly to improve-. ments. in latch iconstruetions of the pivotedbolt typ The present invention is a continuation-inpart. of my copendingapplication Serial No. 6.88 660 filed August. 6, 19.46, now abandoned,and entitled Quick release locking device.

One of the objects oi the present invention isto provide a, latchmechanism capable of beingreadily manipulated tov latched or operativepositi'on wherein. the bolt. securelgr engages asuitable keeper elementand adapted tolbe quickly released from the latched. position or keeperelement with very little effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of the present invention to provide latchmechanismcomposed oi; a relatively few simple parts capable of being,inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed;

The foregoing as. 'well as other objects will. be made more apparentasthis description proceeds; especially when considered in. connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view' with certain parts broken away of alatch mechanism embody- Figure 4 is a side elevational view. of the.latch mechanism shownin Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the( line 5-5. of Figure 4;.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure '7 is a irontelevational. view halving certain parts, broken away of a modified formof latch mechanism;

Figure 8 isv a, view similar to- Fi-gure, 7 showing the latch mechanismin a.- difieren-t position;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken.- on the line 9-9 f i ure 8.;

Figure 1.0 is a sectional view taken on the line |Ll0 of Figure 8;.

Figure 11 is afront elevational. view'of another embodiment of inventionand. having. certain parts brokenaway for-the sake. of clean-less;

Figure 12 is a. view similar to Figure 11- showing the parts of thelatch mechanism-in a (litter-em: position;

Figures 13 and 14 are respectively sectional views taken on the. linest3 -l3 and. l.-L-lkoi: 1 e 1 1 Fi ure .15 is a fr nt elevational view ora fur,-

2 then emhodi-mentoi this invention and also having a part-oithe-.latclacasing broken away for the sake of. clearnessg.

Figure 16 is: a view similar to Figure 15 showing the latch mechanism inanother position Figures 1'1 and 18, are. respectively sectional viewstakenon the. lines; -7-l'b andv lit-I85 oi Figure. 16.

Referring first tot the-embodiment of the invention shown in 1 toisinclusive, it will be noted that the reference numeral H) indicates alatch casing, composed of two plates it secured together in lateralspaced relationship by means. of fastener elements t2, Positionedbetween the plates It. are two bolts l3 and. L4 having correspondingends. projecting beyond the adjacent side of the: casing. w in themanner clearly shown intheseveral figures of the drawings, The bolts areinthe term of plates and are supported on the. casing Izll between the.plate H in face. to-iace. relationship.

As. shown particularly Figure 6 of the draw;- ings, the two'boltsare-pivoted on the. casing Hl intermediate. the ends thereof torrelative: swingi-ng movement. in parallel planes about a common pivotL5. The bolts are held in lateral spaced relationship by meansoi. a.suitable spacer to supported on the pivotpip; I5 between. the bolts andthe opposite ends'ot the'pivot pin l5 are-journal-led in bearings. Hrespectivela carried bythe plates H: of the casing.

Both the latch bolts are identical in shape and theouter or projectingends thereof cooperate to securely engage a keeper element designoted inthe several-,flsluresof the drawings by the numeral t8;v As, shown. inFigure 1-, of the drawings, the outer end ofeach bolt is formed with arecess 19 of sufficient dimensionto receive the keeper element. i8.recess I=9 in one bolt is opposed to the t9 the other bolt, and the tworecesses are so related.- that in th latched position. of. the twobola-ts,- they cooperate to provide; a. continuous circular bearing.contact for the keeper t8 in2 the mannershown in Fi ure 5 of. thedrawings; In other words, when the two bolts. are swung to theirlatched-positions, the wall 29 of. the recess in. the: bolt l4 closesthe-open end of the recess I35 in the bolt l3, and the correspondingwall 2| of the recess l9. in the. bolt. t3 closes; the open and ottherecess. I18 in the bolt 14.. Thus: in. the latched hositious of the twobolts, the keeper. 'element;- is located within the two recesses;antiwar-mot disengage until the bolts are to their released: positionsshown in Figures- 1 of the It is pointed. out at this time that in thereleased position of the two bolts, the wall portions 22 of therespective recesses cooperate to locate the keeper element inregistration with the recesses for engagement in the latter when thebolts are swung to their latched positions shown in Figure 5 of thedrawmgs.

The bolts are swung to their respective latched positions by an abutment23 comprising a pin extending parallel to the pivot pin I5 and havingits axis included in a common plane with the axis of the pivot pin I5.The abutment 23 pro jects through elongated aligned slots 23 formed inthe casing plates II and is connected at the opposite ends to a suitableoperator by links 26. Referring again to Figure 6 of the drawings, itwill be noted that anti-friction rollers 21 are supported on the pin 23and respectively engage.

the elongated walls of the slots 24 in the casing. Also supported on thepin 23 is a pair of antifriction rollers 28 suitably held in axialspaced relationship on the pin 23 for respective engagement with camfaces 29 formed on the laterally inner edges of the bolts adjacent theinner ends thereof.

The above arrangement is such that movement of the keeper 18 in adirection toward the bolts while in their released or open positionsshown in Figure l engages the keeper with the surfaces 22 and swings thebolts to their latched positions shown in Figure 5. During thisoperation the inner ends of the bolts swing outwardly allowing theabutment 23 to assume a position between the cam surfaces 29 and holdthe bolts in their respective latched positions. or course, inwardmovement of the abutment 23 enables the bolts to be swung to theirrespective released positions shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. In thisconnection it will be noted that each bolt is formed with an extension30 at the inner end, and these extensions respectively engage oppositesides of the rollers 28 to position the bolts in their respectiveinoperative or released positions.

The bolts are respectively swung outwardly to their released positionsby means of coil springs 3| respectively connected to the bolts adjacentthe projecting or outer ends thereof. In detail the laterally outeredges 32 of the bolts are sumate in contour and respectively formbearing surfaces for supporting the coil springs 3|. The outer ends ofthe coil springs are anchored to the respective bolts adjacent the openends of the recesses i9, and the inner ends of the coil springs arerespectively connected to the abutment 23 by links 33. It follows fromthe above that the coil springs 3| are connected in the assembly in amanner to yieldably maintainthe cam surfaces 29 in contact with therespective rollers 28 on the abutment 23. Thus as the abutment 23 isretracted or moved in a direction away from the pivot pin I5, thesprings 31 serve to swing the bolts to their released positions. It willalso be noted that the coil springs 3| tend to urge the abutment 23 in adirection toward the pivot pin l5, so that in the latched position ofthe bolts a continuous clamping pressure is applied to the keeper by thebolts. This feature is advantageous in that it provides the latch withan automatic take-up.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9inclusive, it will be noted that the latch casing comprises plates 35secured in lateral spaced relationship by suitable fastener elements 33,and'having registering recesses 31 at one edge to provide clearance fora keeper element 38.

4 keeper element 38. A latch bolt 31 is positioned between the plates 35and is supported intermediate the ends on a pivot 39 for swingingmovement in a plane parallel to the planes of the plates 35.

The bolt 31 is in the form of a plate havin a nose portion 49 at theouter end adapted to swing across the recesses 3'! and having an openended recess M in the nose portion for receiving the keeper element 38when the bolt is swung to its latched position shown in Figure 8 of thedraw ings. It will be noted that the inner edge 42 of the recess 4!projects beyond the open end of the recess, and forms a cam face forcontact with the As shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, the keeperelement 38 is adapted to abut the cam face 42 in such relationship tothe pivot 39 that when the keeper element and latch are relatively movedtoward one another, the bolt is swung from the position shown in Figure7 to the position shown in Figure 8, wherein the keeper element engagesin the recess 41.

The bolt is held in its latched position by means of an abutment 43 inthe form of a pin having its axis extending parallel to the axis of thepivot pin 39 and movable in directions toward and away from the pivotpin 39 through the registering elongated slots Mi formed in the plates35. The location of the abutment 43 with respect to the pin 33 is suchthat in the latched position of the bolt, the abutment engages the sideedge 35 of the boit to prevent swinging movement of the bolt from itslatched position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings to its releasedposition shown in Figure 7.

The slots 44 extend beyond the inner end of the bolt a sufficientdistance to enable moving the abutment 33 to a position wherein the boltis free to swing to its unlatched position shown in Fig ure 7 of thedrawings. When in this latter position, the abutment 43 is engaged by astop 47 projecting inwardly from the corresponding end of the bolt. Thestop 4'! is held in contact with the abutment 43 by a coil spring 48having a bearing engagement throughoutits length with the side edge 49of the bolt opposite the edge 45. The outer end of the coil spring isanchored on the nose portion All of the bolt and the inner end of thecoil spring is connected to the abutment by means of a pair of links 50.The links 50 straddle the inner end portion of the bolt, and the outerends of the links are connected by a pin 5! which contacts the edgeportion 49 of the bolt and forms an anchor for the spring 43. The innerends of the links 50 are respectively connected to the opposite endportions of the abutment 53.

The relationship of the several parts of the latch mechanism in Figures7 to 10 inclusive is such that when an inward thrust is applied to thecam face 42 on the bolt by the keeper element 38, the bolt is swung in acounterclockwise direction about the pin 39 to its latched positionshown in Figure 8 of the drawings wherein the keeper element is receivedby'the recess 4| in the bolt. Also during the above swinging movement ofthe bolt, the edge portion 45 on the bolt registers with the abutment 43permitting the latter to be moved outwardly by the spring 48 along theedge portion 45. Thus the bolt is positively held in its latchedposition by the abutment 43 until the latter is again moved inwardly toits released position. The arrangement is such that the spring 43yieldably maintains the abutment 43 in its latched position, and alsooperates in the released position of the abutment to swing thebolt tothe-posislidably engageable with the abutment in one po- 'sition of thelatter to hold the bolt in a latched position and responsive to movementof the abutment to another position to permit swinging movement of thebolt to its released position, means yieldably urging the bolt to itsreleased position including a coil spring having one end anchored on theend of the bolt adjacent the recess, and links straddling the bolt withadjacent ends pivoted to the abutment and with the opposite endsconnected to the free end of the coil spring.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for swingingmovement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of Swinging movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the supportfor limited sliding movement along a path extending perpendicular tosaid axis, a latching sur face on the bolt slidably engageable with theabutment in one position of the lattter to'hold the bolt in a latchedposition and responsive to movement of the abutment to another positionto permit swinging movement of the bolt to its released position, a stopon the bolt engageable with the abutment to hold the bolt in itsreleased position,

means yieldably urging the bolt to its released position including acoil spring having one end anchored on the end of the bolt adjacent thekeeper receiving recess and having the opposite end connected to theabutment for resisting movement of the latter to its bolt releasingposition, and a cam face between the stop and latching surface aforesaidon the bolt engageable with the abutment and responsive to swingingmovement of the bolt to its latched position to guide the abutment intooperative position with respect to said latching surface.

4. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends of the support for swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swing ing movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of swinging movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of the said axis and mounted on thesupport for limited sliding movement along a path extendingperpendicular to said axis, a latching surface on the bolt slidablyengageable with the abutment in one position of the latter to hold thebolt in a latched position and responsive to movement of the abutment toanother position to permit swinging movement of the bolt to its releasedposition, means yieldably urging the bolt to its released positionincluding a coil spring having one end anchored on the end of the boltadjacent the recess and having the opposite end connected to theabutment for yieldably urging the latter to the first named positionaforesaid thereof, and means on the bolt engageable with the keeper andresponsive to relative movement of the bolt and keeper in a directiontoward one another to swing the bolt to its latched position against theaction of the coil spring.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movementforreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection,

an abutment extended across the'piane of swinging movement of the boltat the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the support for limitedsliding movement along a path extending perpendicular to said axis, anedge surface on the bolt adjacent the open end of the keeper receivingrecess slidably engageable with the abutment in one position of thelatter to hold the bolt in a latched position and responsive to slidingmovement of the abutment to another position to permit swinging the boltto its released position, means yieldably urging the bolt to itsreleased position including a coil spring bearing along the edge surfaceof the bolt opposite the abutment engaging edge surface aforesaid andhaving one end anchored to the bolt at the recess side of the axis ofswinging movement of the bolt, and means connecting the opposite end ofthe spring to said abutment.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of swinging movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the supportfor limited sliding movement along a path extending perpendicular tosaid axis, an edge surface on the bolt adjacent the open end of thekeeper receiving recess slidably engageable with the abutment in oneposition of the latter to hold the bolt in a latched position andresponsive to sliding movement of the abutment to another position topermit swinging the bolt to its released position, means yieldablyurging the bolt to its released position including a coil spring bearingalong the edge surface of the bolt opposite the abutment engaging edgesurface aforesaid and having one end anchored to the bolt at the recessside of the axis of swinging movement of the bolt, means connecting theopposite end of the coil spring to the abutment for urging the latter toits latching position, and means on the bolt engageable with the keeperand responsive to relative movement of the bolt and keeper in directionstoward one another to swing the bolt to its latched position against theaction of said spring.

7. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of swingin movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the supportfor limited sliding movement along a path extending perpendicular tosaid axis, an edge surface on the bolt adjacent the open end of thekeeper receiving recess slidably engageable with the abutment in oneposition of the latter to hold the bolt in a latched position andresponsive to sliding movement of the abutment to another position topermit swinging the bolt to its released position including a coilspring bearing along the edge surface of the bolt opposite the abutmentengaging edge surface aforesaid and having one end anchored to the boltat the recess side of the axis of swinging movement of the bolt, and apair of links straddling the bolt with adjacent ends pivotally connectedto the abutment and with the opposite ends connected to the free end ofthe spring.

,p'pdi t r it d slidpats xte d na tchin surface'on the bolt srida i dage w ii qtfir nti'n ei epq- 'jsition dfthe l te ld t olt in a latchedqs t n re r p s etc move j ntp t e but,- ine'nt to another po tion topermit swinging movement of the ijolt to it's released position,meahs'tieidabl org-rag the bolt to its released position including acqil spring having one end anchored on the endof die "bolt adjacent therecess and having the opposite end connected to the abutment foryieldably urging the latter in a latching direction along said boltsurface, and a portion of the latching surface being inclined for wedginengagement with the abutment in response to the action of the spring forcontinuously applying a force to the bolt in a direction to moreintimately engage the latter with the keeper.

9. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of swinging movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the supportfor limited sliding movement along a path extendin perpendicular to saidaxis, an edge surface on the bolt adjacent the open end of the keeperreceiving recess slidably engageable with the abutment in one positionof the latter to hold the bolt in a latch position and responsive tosliding movement of the abutment to another position to permit swingingthe bolt to its released position, means yieldably urging the bolt toits released position including a coil spring bearing along the edgesurface of the bolt opposite the abutment engaging edge surfaceaforesaid and having one end anchored to the bolt at the recess side ofthe axis of swinging movement of the bolt, means connecting the oppositeend of the coil spring to the abutment for urging the latter to itslatching position, and a portion of the latching surface on the boltbeing inclined in a direction to cooperate with the spring influencedabutment for continuously applying a force on the bolt in a direction tomore intimately engage the latter with the keeper.

10. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt pivotedintermediate the ends on the support for Swinging movement and having anopen ended recess at one side of the axis of swinging movement forreceiving a keeper element in response to swinging the bolt in onedirection, an abutment extended across the plane of swinging movement ofthe bolt at the opposite side of said axis and mounted on the supportfor limited sliding movement along a path extending perpendicular tosaid axis, a latching surface on the bolt slidably engageable with theabutment in one position of the latter to hold the bolt in a latchedposition and responsive to movement of the abutment to another positionto permit swinging movement of the bolt to its released position,

i is "m vem nt Iale ieters-same eper rec ving recess forenga'ging new ii e v mo em if to swing; aforesaid, a. e te he bolt to "its latchedposition nism comprising a support, s ,,.J9Q1 s. rive e n e d t 7 t ej.i s t ti .ime .t er ea hip 5 for "swinging mbvem'ent about a commonaxis and having means at one side of the axis cooperating to engage akeeper in response to swinging movement of the bolts in directionstoward one another, an abutment mounted on the support at the oppositeside of the axis for sliding movement toward and away from the axis,cooperating cam surfaces on the bolts engageable by the abutment uponmovement of the latter toward the axis for swinging the bolts towardeach other into latching position, and coil springs having the adjacentends respectively anchored on the bolts adjacent the keeper engagingends thereof and having the opposite ends connected to said abutment.

12. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a pair of latch boltspivoted intermediate the ends on the support in face to facerelationship for swinging movement about a common axis and having meansat one side of the axis cooperating to engage a keeper in response toswinging movement of the bolts in directions toward one another, anabutment mounted on the support at the opposite side of the axis forsliding movement toward and away from the axis, cooperating cam surfaceson the bolts engageable by the abutment upon movement of the lattertoward the axis for swinging the bolts toward each other into latchingposition, coil springs having adjacent ends respectively anchored on thebolts adjacent the keeper engaging ends and having a bearing engagementwith the outer edges of the bolts, and links respectively connecting thefree ends of the coil springs to the abutment.

13. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt in the form ofa plate pivoted intermediate the ends on the support for swingingmovement and having an open ended recess at one side of the axis ofswinging movement for receiving a keeper element in response to swingingmovement of the bolt in one direction, an abutment extended across theplane of swinging movement of the bolt at the opposite side of the axisand mounted on the support for limited sliding movement in directionstoward and away from the axis, a latching surface on one edge portion ofthe bolt slidably engageable with the abutment in one position of thelatter to hold the bolt in a latched position and responsive to movementof the abutment to another position to permit swinging movement of thebolt to its released position, said bolt having an arcuate edge portionopposite theedge portion aforesaid, a coil spring having one end fixedto the arcuate edge portion adjacent the keeper receiving recess andextending along the arcuate edge porper 'clirections,to'ward, one fition in bearing contact with the latter, a pin slidably engaging thearcuate edge portion on the bolt and connected to the free end of thecoil spring, and links straddling the bolt with adjacent ends pivoted tothe abutment and with the opposite ends connected to said pin.

14. A latch mechanism comprising a support, a latch bolt in the form ofa plate pivoted intermediate the ends on the support for swingingmovement and having an open ended recess at one side of the axis ofswinging movement for receiving a keeper element in response to swingingmovement of the bolt in one direction, an abutment extended across theplane of swinging movement of the bolt at the opposite side of the axisand mounted on the support for limited sliding movement in directionstoward and away from the axis, a latching surface on one edge portion ofthe bolt slidably engageable with the abutment in one position of thelatter to hold the bolt ina latched position and responsive to movementof the abutment to another position to permit swinging movement of thebolt to its released position, said bolt having an arcuate edge portionopposite the edge portion aforesaid, a coil spring having one end fixedto the arcuate edge portion adjacent the keeper receiving recess andextending along the arcuate edge portion in bearing contact with thelatter, a pin slidably engaging the arcuate edge portion on the bolt andconnected to the free end of the coil spring, links straddling the boltwith adjacent ends pivoted to the abutment and with the opposite endsconnected to said pin, and a stop on the bolt engageable with theabutment in the released position of the bolt.

ROBERT JELLISON.

No references cited.

